PARIS - Kylian Mbappe reached 100 goals in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday with a brace in a 2-0 win over his former club AS Monaco at Parc des Princes. The victory gives Mauricio Pochettino's men a provisional 13-point lead over bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille, who now find themselves second in Le Championnat after a 2-0 win away at RC Strasbourg Alsace.
It took just 12 minutes for Mbappe to open the scoring in the French capital with the hosts awarded a penalty via VAR after a clumsy Djibril Sidibe challenge. The 22-year-old Mbappe converted it coolly.
100 - Kylian Mbappé has now scored 100 Ligue 1 goals for Paris. He is the youngest player to score 100 goals for a single team in the top-flight (22 years and 357 days) since Opta began recording this data (1950/51). Astonishing. #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/kxtnLpPCO3
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 12, 2021
On the stroke of halftime, it was two for PSG as Lionel Messi fed the France international, giving Mbappe the time to pick his finish before clinically dispatching it on a night when the Argentine's seventh Ballon d'Or was further celebrated with special gold number and lettering.
"We made the difference in the first half," said Mbappe after the game. "We have played three times this week. There was lots of intensity in the first half and we killed the game. It is also true that more could have been done. It was up to them to then come and get us. The second half was slower but most importantly we won. I like to play. I always like to be on the pitch and playing in every game. It is always a pleasure to play and help the team. I hope to continue this in the games remaining before the end of the year.
"I had an incredible time with Monaco," Mbappe added when reminded that he has scored 10 goals in 10 appearances against Monaco. "I grew up there and I have great memories. Now, though, the page has turned and I am playing for PSG -- I am giving everything for the club."
While Mbappe was excellent, PSG looked painfully pedestrian once more and not even the presence of Marco Verratti in the midfield made the home side more fluent. In fact, the Italy international looked out of sorts on a rare occasion where he was upstaged in the battle for midfield supremacy by the excellent Aurelien Tchouameni.
2 - Lionel Messi has been involved in at least one goal in consecutive games for Paris in all competitions (brace v Club Brugge in UCL, assist v Monaco tonight) for the very first time. Adapted. #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/lLo3f8tpWk
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 12, 2021
In a further blow for PSG, Juan Bernat picked up a non-contact injury which could compromise his involvement for the remainder of 2021 after he just started to return to form after a lengthy injury absence. The French giants are comfortable at the Ligue 1 summit for now and have the Coupe de France to look forward to this coming week against minnows Entente Feignies Aulnoye at Valenciennes FC's Stade du Hainaut.
The next big test for Pochettino and his players will be Olympique Lyonnais away when Championnat action returns in early 2022 but Peter Bosz's men are hardly in impressive form themselves with the Dutchman uncertain to remain in charge as sporting director Juninho Pernambucano leaves.